According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 15 percent of American adults ages 18 and over report some trouble hearing. In other words, hearing loss affects much more than meets the eye— and Dr. Lynda Wayne, Au.D, FAAA and owner of Cadence Hearing Solutions is tackling that number one patient at a time.

Dr. Wayne decided on opening Cadence Hearing Services back in 2006 after recognizing a need among a large population suffering from hearing loss. She runs a practice specialized in patient centered care dedicated to providing individualized attention to each patient’s hearing needs.

Cadence Hearing Services offers a full gamut of services to patients, including audiological screenings, audiologic evaluations, hearing aid services including hearing aid fittings, hearing aid followups and repairs, Tinnitus rehabilitation and customized ear plugs for musicians and more. Dr. Wayne ensures each patient is treated with care and concern, regardless of time taken. She wouldn’t run her practice any other way.

“Audiologists are much different from sales people responsible for selling the hearing aids,” she states. “We’re not proprietary, meaning we aren’t obligated to sell one particular brand. We do what’s in the best interest of the patient. Anyone can sell you a hearing aid—but the follow up and making sure patients are fit properly and are happy is the most crucial aspect. A lot of ‘big-box’ stores won’t do this because of the time it takes. We make sure the patient is fit well and that they continue to come back for follow ups and real ear verification measures, no matter how much time it takes us.”

The Affects of Hearing Loss
The ability to hear and hear clearly is something Dr. Wayne notes many people don’t understand the importance of until experienced themselves. Besides the difficulties in communication, there are many other adverse effects rendered by hearing loss, including:

¦ Withdrawing from normal activities such as social clubs, hobbies, and other activities such as live music concerts, movies and more

¦ Social isolation and or loneliness

¦ Frustration and/or irritability due to inability to hear

¦ Tension, stress and depression

¦ Ringing in the ears

Common Causes Behind Hearing Loss
Those experiencing moderate or severe hearing loss may be experiencing it for a multitude of reasons. According to Dr. Wayne, the leading and most common cause behind hearing loss among patients is excessive noise exposure. There are other causes unrelated to noise exposure, however. Other causes include:

¦ Aging

¦ Genetics

¦ Specific medications

Hearing loss may also in turn, be accompanied by Tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus?
“Tinnitus is essentially a sound emanating from the brain, but there’s nothing going into the ear or brain that’s telling the brain to make these sounds,” Dr. Wayne says. “There’s nothing actually there, but your brain is sending impulses.”

Tinnitus does not however, affect every patient in the same manner, and not every patient experiencing hearing loss will suffer from Tinnitus.

“Tinnitus will sound different for everyone,” Dr. Wayne notes. “It can be a high frequency pitch, a low frequency pitch, a humming or buzzing noise, or even sound like music.”

Considering that Tinnitus is not a “onesize- fits-all” symptom, Cadence Hearing Services tailors their treatment approach based on the specific issues of each patient. Patients are required to fill out a four to five page Tinnitus questionnaire to target areas of trouble and to find a solution.

Solutions for patients, Dr. Wayne adds, range anywhere from turning the fan on at night to mask Tinnitus symptoms, or purchasing a sound machine to place along their nightstand. For those in the moderate to severe category, Dr. Wayne suggests considering Neuromonics, a therapeutic device similar to an MP3, to be worn no more than a maximum of four hours per day, over the course of four months.

“The device retrains the brain into thinking the sound the patient is hearing is not a negative sound,” she mentions. “The device is an interesting concept. It’s an FDA approved device, and not many people know about it.” .

Technological Advancements
While hearing aids have been traditionally known for their blatant visibility to the public eye, many recent technological advancements have catered to these concerns of the market. In turn, hearing aids have shrunk in size and have evolved in both material and function, now tuned to fit each patient individually. Dr. Wayne also says Apple users are in luck with the new iPhone software that allows patients to pair their hearing devices to their phones. .

“You can even locate your hearing aids with your iPhone if you ever lose them,” she adds. “This alone, has revolutionized and been a huge step up for hearing aid technology. .

“We’re also seeing more rechargeable hearing aids on the market, in addition to smaller devices, and hearing aids that can be left in the ear for two months at a time,” Dr. Wayne continues. “We now have hearing aids you can swim with called the Lyric, too. One company we work with also released the smallest hearing aid I have ever seen in years called the Titanium. It’s amazing to see all of the possibilities.” .

How to Prevent Hearing Loss
Every patient of Cadence Hearing Services and of Dr. Wayne will not leave without thorough education on preventative measures they can proactively take to prohibit worsening symptoms. Patients are encouraged to: .

¦ Look into custom ear molds and hearing protectors, especially those exposed to loud noise for prolonged periods of time, such as musicians or construction workers.

Follow Up Care and Maintenance
Though Dr. Wayne says hearing aids are built to last up to roughly five years—or in the rare case, eight years—she stresses the importance of regular routine care and visits, as hearing aids are susceptible to moisture and wax.

“We ask patients to come in for a clean and check every six months, and we never charge them for it,” she says. “It’s also important to brush and wipe away oils from the ear off of the hearing aids. If they’re diligent with this and with cleaning their hearing aids every night, they’ll get about six years out of them. We really try to squeeze the life out of every hearing aid.”

Why Cadence Hearing Services is the “Right Fit”
The process of where to begin can often be daunting, with an abundance of information at the touch of consumer fingertips. Fortunately, Cadence Hearing Services specializes in only four major hearing aid manufacturers, ensuring patients have a choice of both technology and product. Dr. Wayne mentions this is for the mere fact one product is not ideal for each person seen. In addition, the practice works with every budget, including no interest financing, so affordability does not prohibit patients from receiving their long anticipated treatment.

“A lot of people will neglect getting the hearing aid they need because they feel as if it’s unaffordable, and that’s heartbreaking,” Dr. Wayne states. “We have all price ranges, and we’re more than able to work with you. The patient’s quality of life is the most important thing. Helping patients is a passion of mine.”

Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life Magazine, May, 2017.
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